Robert Lowy Family Collection

Robert Lowy Robert Lowy was born as Ralph Löwy in Berlin on November 22, 1929, to Hans and Grete (née Gans) Löwy. He attended German public schools until 1936. Then he transferred to a Jewish private school until 1938 when it was closed by government decree. His school education was interrupted until 1940.

In March of 1940, Ralph Lowy and his mother crossed into Belgium illegally. They lived in Schaerbeek, in the capital region of the country until the end of 1941. Ralph was able to continue his studies for about one year. From 1942-1944 he and his parents remained hidden "underground" in various places in Belgium with various families. From 1945-1947 he visited L'Ecole Ste. Marie, where he excelled as a student.

After their immigration to New York in 1947, Robert Lowy studied a short period of time at the William Howard Taft High School and then attended New York University. His goal was to become a physician. When his father became terminally ill with cancer in 1948, Robert had to earn his own keep and tuition. He worked during the day and continued his studies at night.

In June 1955, Robert Lowy graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts. Due to the efforts and persistence of his mother, financial aid came to him through Germany's restitution payments, which relieved him of income worries and enabled him to pursue his medical studies without interruption.

Hans and Grete Lowy Hans Lowy was born in Berlin on August 18, 1899 and died in New York on December 19, 1948, after a year of illness due to lung cancer. In Germany, he worked in advertising. Among others, he worked for the Vogel Verlag, and as advertising manager for Das Schild, published by the German Association of Jewish War Veterans.

In Belgium he was arrested on May 10, 1940 and transported to the St. Cyprien concentration camp in southern France. From there he was transferred to Camp Gurs. In April 1941, on a transport to the "Camp des Milles camp, he succeeded in escaping back to his family with whom he then lived in hiding for two years.

Grete Lowy was born January 27, 1901 in Cologne to Jeannette and Moritz Gans. In New York, she worked as a secretary. In 1948 she started her efforts for her family to receive restitution for their losses during the Nazi era. She died in New York.

Other Family Members Jeannette "Jenny" Gans (née Seligmann) was born on January 11, 1872 in Bonn. Her husband, Moritz Gans was the district representative in Cologne of the Berlin Life Insurance Co. (Berlinschen Lebensversicherungsgesellschaft AG). After his death on February 8, 1927, Jenny took over the representation of her husband and remained under contract with the company until December 31, 1935 when it was terminated for racial reasons. She died in Cologne on June 6, 1940.

Charlotte Burbach (née Gans), the sister of Grete Lowy, was born in Cologne on September 11, 1895. She married Lothar Burbach, a Gentile, on June 8, 1923, and joined the Protestant Church. Her husband's brothers became high officials of the Nazi party. As a result, Lothar decided to divorce Charlotte in 1936. She had to give up her own apartment and moved into her mother's. To escape a deportation to Poland, she committed suicide on August 27, 1942. She had no children. Her husband remarried.

Martha Haimann (née Gans) was another sister of Grete Lowy. She was born in Cologne on March 4, 1893 and died on November 16, 1928. She was married to Emanuel Haimann, born May 20, 1880 who died on September 2, 1931. He was the brother of Jacob Haimann. Martha and Emanuel had two children, Hans and Hannelore. Hans, a musician, was born on January 20, 1920. He lived in hiding with Robert Lowy and his parents in Belgium and was deported from Malines to Auschwitz on September 20, 1943, where he died. Hannelore was born in the Netherlands on December 16, 1921. She was deported to camp Litzmannstadt (Łodz), where she died.

Gertrude Löwy (née Braun) was Robert Lowy's paternal grandmother, married to Arthur Löwy. Gertrude Löwy was deported to Theresienstadt in 1942, where she died. Two of their daughters died in Auschwitz.

Kurt Löwy was a brother of Hans Lowy, born May 20, 1893 and married to Hertha née Lerchenfeld, born in Prague in 1905. They had two daughters: Erna "Puppa," born in Brünn (Brno) in 1934 and Margot, born a year later. All four members of the family were deported from Brünn; Erna and Margot died in Auschwitz.

Robert Lowy was born as Ralph Löwy in Berlin on November 22, 1929, to Hans and Grete (née Gans) Löwy. He attended German public schools until 1936. Then he transferred to a Jewish private school until 1938 when it was closed by government decree. His school education was interrupted until 1940.

In March of 1940, Ralph Lowy and his mother crossed into Belgium illegally. They lived in Schaerbeek, in the capital region of the country until the end of 1941. Ralph was able to continue his studies for about one year. From 1942-1944 he and his parents remained hidden "underground" in various places in Belgium with various families. From 1945-1947 he visited L'Ecole Ste. Marie, where he excelled as a student.

After their immigration to New York in 1947, Robert Lowy studied a short period of time at the William Howard Taft High School and then attended New York University. His goal was to become a physician. When his father became terminally ill with cancer in 1948, Robert had to earn his own keep and tuition. He worked during the day and continued his studies at night.

In June 1955, Robert Lowy graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts. Due to the efforts and persistence of his mother, financial aid came to him through Germany's restitution payments, which relieved him of income worries and enabled him to pursue his medical studies without interruption.

Hans Lowy was born in Berlin on August 18, 1899 and died in New York on December 19, 1948, after a year of illness due to lung cancer. In Germany, he worked in advertising. Among others, he worked for the Vogel Verlag, and as advertising manager for Das Schild, published by the German Association of Jewish War Veterans.

In Belgium he was arrested on May 10, 1940 and transported to the St. Cyprien concentration camp in southern France. From there he was transferred to Camp Gurs. In April 1941, on a transport to the "Camp des Milles camp, he succeeded in escaping back to his family with whom he then lived in hiding for two years.

Grete Lowy was born January 27, 1901 in Cologne to Jeannette and Moritz Gans. In New York, she worked as a secretary. In 1948 she started her efforts for her family to receive restitution for their losses during the Nazi era. She died in New York.

Jeannette "Jenny" Gans (née Seligmann) was born on January 11, 1872 in Bonn. Her husband, Moritz Gans was the district representative in Cologne of the Berlin Life Insurance Co. (Berlinschen Lebensversicherungsgesellschaft AG). After his death on February 8, 1927, Jenny took over the representation of her husband and remained under contract with the company until December 31, 1935 when it was terminated for racial reasons. She died in Cologne on June 6, 1940.

Charlotte Burbach (née Gans), the sister of Grete Lowy, was born in Cologne on September 11, 1895. She married Lothar Burbach, a Gentile, on June 8, 1923, and joined the Protestant Church. Her husband's brothers became high officials of the Nazi party. As a result, Lothar decided to divorce Charlotte in 1936. She had to give up her own apartment and moved into her mother's. To escape a deportation to Poland, she committed suicide on August 27, 1942. She had no children. Her husband remarried.

Martha Haimann (née Gans) was another sister of Grete Lowy. She was born in Cologne on March 4, 1893 and died on November 16, 1928. She was married to Emanuel Haimann, born May 20, 1880 who died on September 2, 1931. He was the brother of Jacob Haimann. Martha and Emanuel had two children, Hans and Hannelore. Hans, a musician, was born on January 20, 1920. He lived in hiding with Robert Lowy and his parents in Belgium and was deported from Malines to Auschwitz on September 20, 1943, where he died. Hannelore was born in the Netherlands on December 16, 1921. She was deported to camp Litzmannstadt (Łodz), where she died.

Gertrude Löwy (née Braun) was Robert Lowy's paternal grandmother, married to Arthur Löwy. Gertrude Löwy was deported to Theresienstadt in 1942, where she died. Two of their daughters died in Auschwitz.

Kurt Löwy was a brother of Hans Lowy, born May 20, 1893 and married to Hertha née Lerchenfeld, born in Prague in 1905. They had two daughters: Erna "Puppa," born in Brünn (Brno) in 1934 and Margot, born a year later. All four members of the family were deported from Brünn; Erna and Margot died in Auschwitz.